WOMEN & HEART DISEASE

Theres never been a simpler way to determine your risk for the #1 killer of women. New research has found that women with a resting heart rate (RHR) higher than 90 beats per minute are 3 times more likely to die of heart disease than those with an RHR below 60.How can heart rate reveal so much? The fewer number of beats per minute, the stronger and more efficient your heart is.

HOW TO FIND YOUR RHR:Before getting out of bed and your resting heart rate changes, grab a watch and, with your middle and index finger, find your pulse on your neck or wrist and count the beats for 10 seconds. Multipy that number by 6 to determine how many times your heart beats in a minute.If your number is higher than 84, you need to take action.

EXERCISE! Cardio workouts such as jogging or swimming for 20-30 minutes at least 3 times per week are incredibly effective at lowering your RHR.

STAY AT A HEALTHY WEIGHT. The more excess weight you carry, the harder your heart has to pump. Getting to a healthy weight decreases the stress on it.

DO ANYTHING THAT RELIEVES STRESS. Stress can make your heart rate spike. Practice yoga or deep breathing, get massages or just enjoy more downtime.

IF YOU SMOKE, QUIT. Smoking raises your heart rate. Once you quit, circulation and lung function improve and you can reduce your heart disease risk by 50% in just a year.